Roller conveyer



Nov. 11, 1941. M. J. ANDERSON ROLLER CONVEYER Filed June 29, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 ROLLER CONVEYER Martin J. Anderson, Ellwood City, Pa., assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,286

5 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers and is directed more particularly to resiliently mounted roller conveyers such as those disclosed in Rishel Patents Nos. 2,077,188, 2,077,189and 2,077,190, and in Hahn Patent No. 2,107,822.

The advantages of resiliently mounted roller conveyers such as self-alignment of the rollers, proportionate distribution of the load, transportation of irregularly shaped articles and saving wear on the rollers and bearings therefor, are,

fully discussed in the above patents and are now well known in the art.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient rubber mounting for conveyers wherein the maximum effectiveness of the rubber is attained by placing it in shear instead of in direct compression as will hereinafter more fully appear.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide an improved resilient rubbermounting for conveyers that will absorb horizontal thrusts caused by the movement of a load on the rollers, as well as oiier resiliency and resistance to vertical forces due to the weight of a load on the rollers.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a resilient rubber mounting for roller conveyers that is efficient, inexpensive to manufacture and that may be readily replaced.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application wherein like numerals designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a conveyer constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating each resiliently mounted I unit as having two rollers;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of erally at 4 are supported by the horizontal.

flanges 2 of frame members I.

Each of the roller units 4 is substantially identical in structure and preferably consists of a pair of laterally spaced angle iron side frames 5 having base flanges 6 which are arranged sub- 51 stantially parallel to horizontal flanges 2 of the frame members I. A cross-piece I is connected between each pair of side frames 5 to hold them in laterally spaced relation and to make each unit an independently rigid structure. Extending transversely of the unit 4 and mounted in the side frames 5 are a pair of longitudinally spaced cross shafts 8, each of which carries a load supporting roller 9 with suitable bearings to permit free rotation on the cross shafts 8.

The roller units thus far described are of standard construction and it is obvious that any other unit construction might be used equally well. It is also obvious that only one, or any number of rollers may be included in each unit.

Interposed between the horizontal flanges 2 of the frame members I and the base flanges 6 of the side frames5 are a plurality of resilient mountings designated generally at [0, one of which is clearly shown in Figure 3.

Each resilient mounting consists of a base plate ll with substantially V-shaped brackets l2 mounted on opposite sides thereof so that one side of the bracket [2 lies flatly on the surface of the base plate II and the other side projects upwardly toward the side of the base plate H on which the bracket is mounted to form angularly disposed supporting members l3. A rubber block or bar l4, which is substantially rectangular in cross section, is securely mounted on each angularly disposed supporting member IS, with one edge lying flatly on the surface thereof so the sides of the bars M are disposed at an angle projecting upwardly toward the center of the base plate I l. The rubber bars l4 are preferably cemented to the supporting members l3, but may be secured in any well known or approved man-' ner. An inverted channel member I5 is formed with its side flanges It turned inwardly so as to engage the sides of the rubber bars opposite the sides mounted on the supporting members l3. When the mounting is thus assembled, the side flanges l6 are horizontally offset with respect to the supporting members 13, and the web portion of the channel member is disposed substantially parallel to the base plate II. The flanges I5 are also preferably rigidly attached to the rubber bars 14 by cementing or by some other approved manner. The base plate II and the web of the channel member i5 have vertically aligned holes formed therein to receive a bolt I! which holds the resilient mounting between the horizontal flanges 4 of the frame members I and the base flanges 6 of the side frames 5. When the conveyer is thus assembled, the base plate H and the web of the channel member l5 will lieflush with the horizontal flanges 2 of the frame memhers I and the base flanges 6 of the side frames 5, respectively.

In some instances, as when the conveyer is used forheavy loads, I find it desirable to place the resilient mountings l0 under] an initial strain in addition to the weight of'the roller units 4 and the load adapted to be carried by the rollers 9 in order to increase the effectiveness of the re silient mountings. This may be accomplished by tightening the bolts 11.

The resilient rubber bars or blocks l4 may be formed of any suitable composition of rubber to obtain the desired resilience depending upon the Weight of the load to be carried by the rollers.

It is obvious from the foregoing description of my invention that, due to the horizontally offset relation of flanges l6 to supporting members l3, a downward force caused by the weight of a load on the rollers 9 will act in shear on the angularly disposed rubber bars l4 instead of only in direct compression. Thus, the miximum effectiveness of the rubber is attained. For this reason a resiliently mounted roller conveyer embodying my invention requires less rubber for a given condition than is required when the rubber is in compression.

In addition, the characteristics of rubber mountings in shear are different from those of mounting solely in compression. As is well known, resiliency of rubber decreases at a very rapid rate as the displacement due to compression increases and the resistance of the rubber to further displacement correspondingly increases at a very rapid rate as the compression increases. However, when rubber is deflected in shear the rate at which its resiliency decreases is much less than when the rubber is solely in compression and similarly the resistance of rubber in shear to further displacement increases at a much lower rate than that of rubber in compression. The resulting effect of resilient rubber mountings with the rubber in shear as compared with those having the rubber solely in compression is a much smoother movement of the load along the rollers of a, conveyer because the deflection of rubber caused by the weight of the load does not materially detract from its resiliency. Hence, the resilient mountings are capable of further displacement to offset irregularities in the load or the rollers.

The advantages of resilient mountings having the rubber in shear are even more apparent when they are subjected to an initial strain in addition to the weight of the roller units and the load supported by the rollers. Although the deflection of the bars due to such an initial strain reduces their resiliency somewhat, they are still capable of further displacement whereas if similar bars were subjected to direct compression their resistance to further displacement would be much greater.

It is also obvious that horizontal thrusts caused by movement of the load along the conveyer will be readily absorbed by the resilient mountings herein described. For example, when a load is moving longitudinally of the conveyer, the rollers supporting the load will be disposed at a slightly lower level than those rollers which the load is approaching. It is evident, therefore, that when the leading portion of the load moves from one roller to the next, it will strike the latter roller with a horizontal force before it begins to depress the roller to the same level. Unless this force is absorbed, the impact will cause considerable wear on the rollers and bearings. As illustrated in the drawing, the resilient mountings are positioned trans- Versely with respect to the conveyer so such a horizontal force is transmitted to the resilient mountings and causes a shearing deflection of the rubber bars whereby the shock is absorbed. This deflection of the rubber bars in shear permits a relatively greater longitudinal displacement of the rollers with respect to the conveyer which eases the load onto and over the rollers without interrupting the movement of the load or causing undue wear of the rollers and bearings.

What I claim is:

1. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a base, a plurality of rollers supported by said base, and resilient mountings interposed between said base and said rollers including resilient rubber bars supported in angularly disposed position with respect to said base and the plane of said rollers so the weight of a load on said rollers acts in compression and shear on said resilient rubber bars.

2. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a base, a plurality of rollers supported by said base, and resilient mountings interposed between said base and said rollers, each of said resilient mountings including a pair of supporting members projecting divergently upwardly at inclined angles to said base, and a resilient rubber barcarried by each of said supporting members so that the weight of a load on said rollers acts in compression and shear on said resilient rubber bars.

3. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a base, a plurality of rollers supported by said base, resilient mountings interposed between said base and said rollers including resilient rubber bars supported in angularly disposed position with respect to said base and the plane of said rollers so the weight of a load on said rollers acts in compression and shear on said resilient rubber bars, and means for placing said resilient rubber bars under an initial strain independent of the weight of said rollers and the load passing thereover.

4. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a base, a plurality of roller units supported by said base, and resilient mountings interposed between said base and said roller units, each of said resilient mountings including a pair of V-shaped brackets adapted to rest on said base and project upwardly in opposite directions at an angle with respect to said base to form supporting members, a rubber bar carried by each of said supporting members, and a channel member forming the top of said mounting and having inturned flanges engaging said rubber bars whereby the weight of a load on said rollers acts in compression and shear on said rubber bars.

5. A resiliently mounted roller conveyer comprising a base, a plurality of roller units supported by said base, and resilient mountings interposed between said units and said base to resiliently support said units, each of said mountings including horizontally offset supports, and resilient rubber bars carried by said supports in angularly disposed position with respect to said base and the plane of said rollers whereby the weight of a load on said rollers acts in compression and shear on said rubber bars.

MARTIN J. ANDERSON. 

